Journal of Tropical Forest Science 10(2): 271-274 (1997)
NOTES
A PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS
IN THE WEST COAST AND INTERIOR OF SABAH
Julius Kulip
Forestry Research Centre, P.O. Box 1407, 90715 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
The uses of traditional medicinal plants in relieving symptoms of disease and curing various infections date back many centuries. In recent years, considerable interest has developed in Asian countries in the collection and extended use of indigenous and introduced plants for medicinal purposes (Guntavid 1992, Kulip 1996). Knowledge of medicinal plants has been the key for the survival of the ethnic groups who live in the interior. Peoples who live far from towns and in forests still rely on traditional cures handed down to them through the generations. They use these plants in one form or another to cure or alleviate a variety of ills, for example, toothache, stomach-ache and malaria.
This report describes a number of plants still being used for medicinal purposes in various districts of Sabah, especially where the people cannot avail themselves to hospital facilities. It was prepared to meet the growing need to learn about local medicinal plants in Sabah, and also to provide an ethnobotanical basis for chemical and pharmaco- logical studies. To gather information, a botanist interacted directly with the villagers experienced in the preparation and administration of various plant remedies. The survey was conducted in various districts in the west coast and interior parts of Sabah, namely Kota Marudu, Pitas, Ranau, Kuala Penyu, Papar, Tambunan, Penampang, Tenom, Sipitang, Sook and Pinangah. Thirteen villages in eight districts and three sub-districts were involved.
Specimens of plants, known for their cures of specific illnesses, were collected and recorded by their local names. Voucher herbarium specimens were identified and lodged at the State Forestry Herbarium in Sandakan.
Table 1. Ethnobotanical applications of Sabah medicinal plants
Medical use Antidote
Antihelminthic
Antimalarial
Alopecia Asthma
Botanical name Aralia montana (Araliaceae) bambusa vulgaris (Bambusaideae) Barringtonia sp. (Lecytidaceae) Coix lachryma-jibi (Gramineae) Paedaria verticellata (Rubiaceae) Menispermaceae
Alstonia angustiloba (Apocynaceae) Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae) Panacium palmifolium(Gramineae)
Euphorbiaceae
Costus sp.
Costaceae , Drynaria sparisona (Polypodiaceae)
Tribal name Golungang (Kd) Tamahang (Kd) Tampalang (Kd) Tigiu (Kd) Taud (Kd) Babas (L) Tombirong (Kd) Monomopuru (Kd) Tandaki (Kd) Taagong (L) Silok (L)
Tongkur-ongkur (Kd) Tapako (Kd)
Part used Young leaves Outer bark powder Inner bark Root Any part Sap Latex Ripe fruit Young leaves
Leaves Sap Young shoot Rhizome
continued
271
272 Journal of Tropical Forest Science 10(2): 271 -274 (1997)
Table 1 (continued)
Beri-beri
Burnt skin Chest complaint
Colic
Cough
Diabetes Eczema Febrifuge Gastritis Germicide Headache
Hemophilic
Influenza
Insect repellent
Intensive cleanser/Wound Jaundice
Measles
Myorelaxant
Cassia sp. (Leguminosae) Murremia gracilis (Convovulaceae) Ampelocissus imperiales (Vitaceae) Cassia alata (Leguminosae) Cinnamomum sp. (Lauraceae) Etlingera punicea (Zingiberaceae) Lycopoilium sp. (Lycopodiaceae) Dillenia excelsa (Dilleniaceae) Fagrea racemosa (Loganiaceae) Fissistigma latifolium (Annonaceae) Flacourlia rukam (Flacourtiaceae) Ellipanthus tomentosus (Compositae) Ficus sp. (Moraceae)
Rinorea sp. (Violaceae) Centella asiatica (Umbiliferae) Coix lachryma-jobi (Gramineae) Justicia gendarussa (Acanthaceae) Plantago major (Plantaginaceae) Menispermaceae
Cucurbita sp. (Cucurbitaceae) Compositae
Mallolus macrostachys (Euphorbiaceae) Justicia gendarussa (Acanthaceae)
Flacourtia sp. (Flacourtiaceae) Hanguana sp. (Hanguanaceae) Intsia palembanica (Leguminosae) Amydrium medium (Araceae) Brucea javanica (Simaraoubaceae) Coix lachryma-jobi (Gramineae) Costus sp. (Costaceae) Acorus calamus (Araceae)
Plantago major (Plantaginaceae) Liliaceae
Fibraurea tinctoria (Menispermaceae) Alocasia sp. (Araceae)
Croton sp. (Euphorbiaceae)
Hanguana malayana (Hanguanaceae)
Wollu (Kd) Malagatas (Kd) Tabai (Kd) Kayabau (K) Makalabau (Kd) Tuhau (Kd) Pogou (Kd) Doingin (Kd) Todopon puok (Kd) Sumbun (Kd) Peripot (Kd) Bidon (Kd) Tongkungkop (Kd) Posiou (Kd) Salapid (Kd) Dalai (Kd) Tolonsi (Kd) Bunga (L) Babas (L)
Timun belanda (L) Udu amek (L) Dahu (Kd) Sikapapar (Kd) Peropot (Kd) Tambaka (Kd) Tupin (Kd) Kulimpiau (Kd) Kuinin (Kd) Dalai (Kd) Sidbu-sidbu (Kd) Guo sanit (R ) Komburongoh (Kd) Bunga (L)
Bawang sia (L)
Tonsisilou or Takop (Kd) Tanom (Kd)
Kalayon (Kd) Nalu kapar (Kd)
Stem Sap Young leaves Root Young leaves Young shoot Stem, twig & leaves Sap
Root Sap Root Root
Sap from the root Fruit leaves Smoke to be inhale Young stem Young leaves Whole plant Leaves Fruit Root Root Leaves Leaves Whole plant Leaves Entire plant Fruit
Root or young leaves Young shoot Rhizome
Whole plant Seed Stem Stem Root Leaves
continued
Journal of Tropical Forest Science 10(2): 271 -274 (1997) 273
Table 1 (continued) Pancreatitis
Rheumatism
Ring worm
Shivering Skin cancer Sprain
Stomach-ache
Styptic
Swelling body
Tonic
Alphitonia incana (Rhamnaceae) Blumea balsamifera(Compositae) Merremia gracilis (Convovulaceae) Tetrastigma sp. (Vitaceae) Humutanthus sp. (Euphorbiaceae) Hoya coronaria (Asclepidaceae) Homalanthu populneus (Euphorbiaceae) Uvaria sp. (Annonaceae) Cassia alata (Leguminosae) Ficus elliptica (Moraceae) Liliaceae
Abutilon indicum (Malvaceae)
Barringtonia sp. (Lecythidaceae) Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae) Eurycoma longifolia (Simaroubaceae) Sida acuta (Malvaceae)
Costus speciosus (Costaceae) Mallolus sp. (Euphorbiaceae) Fibraria chloroleuca (Menispermaceae) Dillenia sp. (Dilleniaceae)
Dinochloa sp. (Gramineae) Gomphostemma sp. (Labiate) Mallatus sp. (Euphorbiaceae) Paederia sp. (Rubiaceae) Dillenia excelsa (Dilleniaceae) Haya ammaria (Asclepidaceae) Phyllanthus sp. (Euphorbiaceae) Stenochlaena palustris (Blechnaceae) Agelaea macrophylla (Connaraceae) Averrhoa bilimbi (Oxalidacaceae) Croton sp. (Euphorbiaceae) Cymbopogon citratus (Gramineae) Dalbergia parvifolia (Leguminosae) Dichapetalum sp. (Dichapetalaceae) Dioscorea sp. (Dioscoreaceae) Fissistigma manubriatum (Annonaceae) Gardenia sp. (Rubiaceae)
Albizia sp. (Leguminosae) Gnetum macrostachyum (Gnetaceae) Octomeles sumatranana (Datiscaceae) Uvaria sursogonensis (Annonaceae) Matroxylon sago (Palmae) Loranthaceae
Pukudita (Kd) Tawawo (Kd) Gatas-gatas (Kd) Lipoi (Kd) Tombubuto (Kd) Wida (Kd) Dolimato (Kd) Langad-langad (Kd) Manggarut (Kd) Hintotobu (Kd) Bawang sia (L ) Tindokot or Tondorupang (Kd) Tampalang (Kd) Magapas or Tinimug di ikus(Kd) Tombuid or Monompuru (Kd) Bulitotok (Kd) Linsabu (MT) Dahu (Kd) Tapa buawang (Kd) Rungin ( R) Wadan (Kd) Bunga susun (M) Dahu (R ) Ubat damat (M) Pampan (R) Mongkolongkoi (R ) Lomiding (Kd) Kalam-malam (M) Tulod-ulod (Kd) Rolok taragang (R) Capai-pimping (M) Tampan kalabau (Kd) Akar urat (M)
Kolonton aiso due (Kd) Gagon(Kd)
Marabingo (Kd) Sapang (Kd) Kokos (Kd) Tiniwaung (Kd) Sogombong (Kd) Rumbio (Kd) Surni sohod (Kd)
Leaves Leaves Sap Sap Stem Young leaves Young leaves Whole plant Leaves Root Leaves Root and leaves
Bark Ripe fruit
Root or leaves Whole plant Young stem Bark Stem Root Young shoot Leaves Bark Leaves Young leaves Leaves Twig and leaves Leaves and frond Root
Root Bark Root Bark Leaves Rhizome Root Root Root or stem Stem Bark Root Young shoot Root
continued
274 Journal of Tropical Forest Science 10(2): 271 - 274 (1997)
Table 1 (continued)
Womb cleanser Desmodium heterocarpus (Leguminosae) Mampan sokot (Kd) Whole plant Ficus septica (Moraceae) Hintotobow (Kd) Root
K = Kimarangang; Kd = Kadazandusun; L = Lundayeh;
M = Malay; MT= Murut Timugan; R = Rungus.
Table 1 gives some information on 95 plant species used to treat 34 ailments. Plant species may be used by various tribes for a range of medicinal purposes. For example, Costus speciosus is used to treat fever by the Kadazandusun tribe but the Murut Timugan tribe use it for stomach-ache. The chief source of medicinal plants in Sabah has been plants growing wild in the primary or secondary forest districts. Some commonly used plants are planted around houses. Treatments vary from a single plant to, usually, mixtures of up to ten species. This study reveals that there are more than 100 species used as medicinal plants in the areas visited. The application of endemic flora as a traditional medicinal cure plays an important role in the primary health care of village people in Sabah today.
It also highlights the fact that forest plants have several uses other than just for timber.
Acknowledgements
I would like to especially thank all the village people involved without whose help this documentation would not have been produced. I am also grateful to Miller Munang, the former Director of the Forestry Department Sabah, for his permission and encourage- ment, and my colleagues at the Forest Research Centre Herbarium in Sandakan, especially George Majawat, for their assistance in the field-work, and Leopold Madani for the plant identification.
Reference
GUNTAVID, J.P. 1992. Traditional medicinal plants. Their uses by the Tangala Murut and the Dusun/
Kadazari of Tambunan. Paper presented at the Borneo Research Council Second Biennial International Conference. 13-17july 1992, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
KULIP.J. 1996. A survey of indigenous plants used for food and medicine by Kadazandusun ethnic in Tambunan, Sabah, East Malaysia. Paper presented at the Fourth Biennial Conference of the Borneo Research Council. 10-15 June 1996, University Brunei Darussalam, Brunei.
